28/02/08 (1) - SuperStars
The Hull v Wigan match was an outstanding contest, played at a pace, and with skill and intensity levels, more in keeping with than a crunch late season clash than a regulation round three skirmish. Full of end to end action, thrills and spills and with a nail-biting finish, the 13,000 or so lucky enough to have been in attendance won’t see too many better games all year.
Hull carried an attacking threat for the first time this season thanks largely to the decision to bring Shaun Berrigan into the pivotal scrum-half role. Berrigan cut through to score the first try himself, and thereafter continued to menace a Wigan defensive line understandably hesitant whenever he took possession. For Wigan’s part, Trent Barrett was, as always, at the heart of everything the cherry and whites put together, probing throughout with that exceptional combination of incisive bursts, dangerous passes and penetrative kicks.
It took me back to that wonderful and gripping 1985 Challenge Cup Final, when the legendary Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny pulled on their respective hooped jerseys and faced off against each other for these two great old sides. For those of us that appreciate the game’s fine arts, watching Berrigan and Barrett – two master Aussie craftsmen at work – was in itself a magnificent spectacle. And for all the talk of excessive imports over the last few years, the Super League competition is all the richer for possessing these genuine superstars.
